DON NELSON

The Dallas Mavericks are buying time to get Luka Doncic involved in their first-round series against Utah after winning Game 2 at home without their star.

Brook Lopez scored a season-high 28 points and the Milwaukee Bucks overcame a rather quiet performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo to clinch their fourth straight Central Division championship with a 127-106 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

Jazz Spurs Basketball San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) drives to the basket against Utah Jazz center Hassan Whiteside, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 11, 2022, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (Eric Gay)SAN ANTONIO — (AP) — Gregg Popovich is the winningest coach in NBA regular-season history, getting his 1,336th victory when the San Antonio Spurs rallied to beat the Utah Jazz 104-102 on Friday night. Popovich's first stint in San Antonio ended in 1992, working for Larry Brown — until the whole coaching staff got fired. Popovich has won five NBA championships, 13 division titles and was recently named one of the 15 greatest coaches in league history. The Spurs have fully embraced a rebuild expedited by Kawhi Leonard’s forced departure from San Antonio along with the retirement of the Big Three.

Gregg Popovich became the winningest coach in NBA regular-season history, getting his 1,336th victory when the San Antonio Spurs rallied to beat the Utah Jazz 104-102.

Fred VanVleet had 26 points and the Toronto Raptors beat the San Antonio Spurs 119-104 on Wednesday night, delaying Gregg Popovich’s coronation as the winningest coach in NBA history.

And by adding in his 170 playoff victories, his total is at 1,505 in the NBA, which is 93 more than anyone else. “Everyone knows the amazing job he’s done and all the accomplishments,” longtime coach Larry Brown said last year. Popovich’s path to the NBA, and then to the role as coach of the Spurs, wasn't exactly traditional. Popovich acknowledged that he has wondered what would have happened if Smith and Brown hadn’t extended those opportunities his way. Spoelstra and Popovich are forever linked, after going head-to-head as coaches in the NBA Finals in 2013 and 2014.

The San Antonio coach will try to set the record for most coaching wins on Wednesday.

Gregg Popovich tied Don Nelson’s NBA record with his 1,335th career victory as a coach in the San Antonio Spurs’ 117-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Ja Morant threw down a massive dunk over 7-footer Jakob Poeltl and scored a career-high 52 points, lifting the Memphis Grizzlies over the San Antonio Spurs 118-105.

Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson, instrumental in the club's acquisitions of Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic, is leaving the organization after 24 seasons. A few months later, the Mavericks moved up in the draft to get Nowitzki in a trade with Milwaukee. With the Nowitzki era drawing to a close, the Mavericks made another draft-day deal for a young European in Doncic in 2018. Dallas moved up two spots to the No. Nowitzki and the teenager from Slovenia played together one season before Nowitzki retired.

Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson, instrumental in the club’s acquisitions of Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic, is leaving the organization after 24 seasons.

David McNew/Getty Images(CNN) - Back in February, ahead of a Golden State Warriors game at Oracle Arena, Don Nelson was asked what he's been up to since he retired from coaching. "I've been smoking some pot," Nelson said. In an interview with HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel," Nelson revealed that he grows marijuana on his farm in Maui. Nelson retired from coaching as the NBA's winningest coach. And he just might be the first retired NBA coach to grow his own marijuana.